Battle of Lutter

The Battle of Lutter occurred on 27 August 1626 during the Thirty Years' War. The battle saw Count Tilly's Catholic army decisively defeat King Christian IV of Denmark's army, temporarily halting the Danish intervention in northern Germany.

Background
While Ernst von Mansfeld was defeated at the Battle of Dessau Bridge, King Christian IV of Denmark had remained at Wolfenbuttel, where he attempted to gain additional German support. Meanwhile, Count Tilly's Catholic German army razed the strongholds at Munden, Northeim, and Gottingen, and Christian raced south in a failed attempt at relief. His army was then forced to retreat north, chased by the Catholic League army. His army was slowed by his refusal to abandon his baggage train, and he was forced to deploy on 27 August 1626 when Tilly caught up with him at Lutter near the Hummecke Stream.

Battle
The Danes made poor use of their artillery, with only 2 of their 21 guns firing at the same time, while the Catholic League guns fired more effectively. The Catholic League tercios advanced across the stream under artillery cover and gained a foothold on the other time, while Imperial cuirassier, arquebusier, and dragoon cavalry flanked the Danes and doubly enveloped them. Tilly's center then advanced across the stream and seized much of the Danish artillery and their baggage train, forcing the Danes to retreat. Tilly's forces then besieged Wolfenbuttel and Nienburg, and Tilly and Albrecht von Wallenstein went on to overwhelm Holstein and chase the Danes back into Denmark.